252 CORRESPONDENCE OF
struck with Heidelberg and the magnificence of its
ruined castle. How much has been done in Europe, even
in the despotic states, for the comfort and convenience of
the mass of the population—I mean particularly in the
abundance of public fountains, and the variety and
beauty very often of public gardens. In Switzerland
every town abounds with proofs of an attention to the
comfort of the lower orders and no where more than in
aristocratic Berne. How little has been yet done for the
same object in America.—It is not difficult to perceive
the reasons of the difference, yet I always felt a sort of
humiliation whenever I saw it. Our latest accounts of
Europe show everything unsettled there. The loss of the
Reform bill will agitate England to the center. I hope
the Whigs will be able to restrain their friends the mob—
any violence which shall cause the shedding of blood can-
not fail, I should think, to strengthen their adversaries.
The necessity of employing soldiers would alienate their
radical friends, while it would alarm the timid of their
own men of property. I think the bill, with very little
diminution, if any, of its efficiency, must pass at last. I
have no fear of* the consequences—I firmly believe the
aristocracy of England, including in that term the landed
interest of the gentry, will be quite able to set bounds to
the Revolution, and to maintain their own fair share of
power. France seems very far from secure in her revolu-
tion—but what she is to come to is a very difficult ques-
tion.—I was astonished at your saying "you thought a
restoration highly probable"—I had not the least idea the
Carlists could be so strong as to give the least chance of
such an event. I was always inclined to the opinion that
the wisest course, at the beginning, was to have left the
crown to the young duke of Bordeaux, making the Duke